Level: Director

Reports To: VP Product

Travel: Must be willing to travel to program sites up to 1X per quarter for 1-2 weeks

Job Type: Full Time

Location: This role is fully remote but must overlap with an East Africa timezone by at least 3 hours. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visas in the U.S. or U.K. at this time.

Priority application deadline: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (or until we have a critical mass of applications)

About this role

GiveDirectly has established a Product team responsible for identifying new program areas for exploration and implementation, as well as deepening our impact in existing program areas. Products at GiveDirectly are double-sided - serving the needs of our recipients on one side, and donors on the other - and include large technology components as well as the careful design of in-person operations. They range from our flagship large lump sum cash work to highly targeted support for specific populations or locations; the Product team works across fundraising, program implementation, and Research and Technology to build end-to-end programs and bring them to market. This role is responsible for assembling and leading cross-functional teams to drive product development, optimization, and scale.

They may oversee single products, if large and/or complex, or a portfolio of products at different stages of development.

Product leads must:

• Be entrepreneurial generalists… with capabilities/experience across at least 2 of 3 following areas: software & technology, development research & evidence, and humanitarian or development program delivery
• Demonstrate strong go-to-market instincts, with track record for mobilizing resources around big ideas and opportunities
• Be data driven with excellent altitude awareness - Product leads should be able to flex between big picture vision across multiple contexts and “in the weeds,” data-driven problem solving
• Show discernment and conviction in ambiguity, making the hard decisions to say no to things and drive focus
• Have track record of driving big results without direct formal authority (strong influence and high follow through)

Building on recent evidence that large, unconditional cash transfers can significantly reduce infant mortality, GiveDirectly is building a “Mothers & Babies” product that provides large cash transfers to expectant mothers to improve maternal and newborn outcomes. The demands on this product are two-sided: it must deliver a high-quality, dignified experience for recipients and build durable donor conviction that this is a top-tier use of philanthropic and (eventually) public funds.

This role will lead the end-to-end product strategy and execution across multiple countries and partnerships, assembling and driving a cross-functional team spanning Programs, Research/M&E, Partnerships, and Safeguarding. You’ll set the learning agenda, pressure-test and iterate on program design, and translate evidence and delivery performance into a compelling case and readiness for scale.

What success looks like

By the end of 2026, we can credibly say “this works and we can scale it,” backed by:

• Impact validation: a clear, defensible impact story with leading indicators (and a credible path to rigorous evaluation where needed)
• Delivery validation: operational clarity on targeting and verification; reliable, on-time payment delivery; a playbook for partnerships with health organizations that works across contexts
• Donor validation: strong donor interest and commitments, ideally from both HNW and institutional funders, with a robust pipeline and clear “requirements” for scale (e.g. what it would take for donors to fund at scale)
• Unit economics: a clear model for cost per outcome and the path to improved efficiency at scale, including tradeoffs between operating with partners vs. in-housing program components
• Scale readiness: a concrete 2027 plan (countries, partners, operating model, tech roadmap, resourcing, risks)

What you'll do:

Set strategy, define the hypotheses, and drive focus

• Own the product vision and multi-year strategy, translating it into annual and quarterly goals and clear “go/no-go” decision points.
• Define and maintain the core “hypotheses” that ground GiveDirectly’s investment in this product (impact/value, feasibility/delivery, and growth/fundability), including what evidence would change our confidence.
• Build a crisp roadmap that separates (a) what must be proven, (b) what must be built, and (c) what must be scaled—then ruthlessly prioritize to match the year’s goal.

Design and iterate on program model and recipient experience

• Lead program design choices (e.g., transfer size, timing/cadence, etc), grounded in evidence and operational realities.
• Ensure the program meets a high bar for recipient dignity, safeguarding, consent, and clarity - especially given the sensitivity of pregnancy and newborn outcomes.
• Partner closely with programs teams to identify where reality diverges from our plans, diagnose root causes, and implement adaptations quickly and thoughtfully.

Build scalable delivery and partnership models

• Identify, evaluate, and manage partners critical to targeting and outcomes (e.g., community health NGOs, health facilities, government health systems, digital maternal health platforms).
• Define the operating model: what GiveDirectly must do vs. what partners can do better (and cheaper), and how responsibilities, incentives, data flows, and accountability work.
• Develop playbooks for recipient targeting/verification, enrollment of pregnant women, payment timing, troubleshooting, and issue escalation—then standardize across countries where appropriate.
• Define the tech needs for delivery and scale (e.g., digital identification/enrollment pathways, system integrations with health registries where feasible, 2-way messaging for consent/verification, automation to reduce delays/failures).

Drive the learning agenda and evidence narrative

• Set the measurement strategy and learning agenda: leading indicators, qualitative insight loops, and (where appropriate) the path to rigorous evaluation.
• Work with research/MEAL to ensure we’re collecting the “decision-grade” evidence we need (not just reporting metrics), including how findings translate into product decisions.
• Package evidence into a narrative that is legible and persuasive to donors, partners, and policy stakeholders—without overselling or handwaving uncertainty.

Support fundraising and go-to-market

• Build the product’s “go-to-market” posture: positioning, target donor segments, proof points, and the pitch narrative that unlocks scale.
• Partner with fundraising to shape pipeline strategy and support key conversations—especially where product credibility and evidence are decisive.
• Establish a cadence of tight updates and materials that make it easy for relationship owners to sell the product confidently.

Lead cross-functional execution without formal authority

• Assemble and run a high-performing cross-functional team, setting operating rhythms, decision forums, and clarity on ownership.
• Build alignment across stakeholders (country leadership, research, fundraising, tech) and “cleanly escalate” when tradeoffs need senior resolution.
• Create an environment of candor, high standards, and rapid learning—while operating with care in a sensitive domain.

Qualifications:

• Exceptional alignment to GD values, passion for our mission, and commitment to recipient dignity and empowerment
• 8+ years of professional work experience in similar role or function (product, programs, business development, partnerships)
• Proven leadership ability and management experience in building high performing teams
• Experience working with a distributed team in a multicultural environment
• Interest in working as part of a growing company, with awareness about the opportunities and challenges that come with a highly adaptive environment
• Strong, succinct communications: Skilled in speaking, writing, presenting, and negotiating across multiple stakeholders
• Analytical problem solver: Looks at problems w/ analytical and iterative mindset, with strong framework for prioritization

Compensation

At GiveDirectly, we strive to pay our employees generously and equitably. We use an accredited third party salary aggregator to calculate what we believe to be competitive pay based on role, location, and cost of living. We also have a no negotiation policy to ensure we are paying staff equitably across roles. Read more about our compensation philosophy here.

Unless otherwise noted, the benefits stipend may be used to cover benefits or taken as additional taxable income.

United States

• Base Salary: $128,000
• Bonus at Target Performance: 15% (~$19,200, with potential for upside. For reference, with the organization's current performance multiplier, this amount would be $22,464 in 2025)
• Estimated Total Compensation at Target: $147,200+
• Annual Benefits Stipend: $21,393

United Kingdom

• Base Salary: £87,500
• Bonus at Target Performance: 15% (~£13,125, with potential for upside. For reference, with the organization's current performance multiplier, this amount would be £15,356 in 2025)
• Estimated Total Compensation at Target: £100,625+
• Annual Benefits Stipend: £2,760

Kenya

• Base Salary: $101,221
• Bonus at Target Performance: 15% (~$15,183, with potential for upside. For reference, with the organization's current performance multiplier, this amount would be $17,764 in 2025)
• Estimated Total Compensation at Target: $116,404+
• Annual Benefits Stipend: $8,453

This role is fully remote, so if you are not based in the US, UK or Kenya, we will share an estimated salary benchmark for the country you are based in during the hiring process.

Why work at GiveDirectly?

At GiveDirectly, we work to ensure that you have everything you need to excel in your role and on your team, including:

• A positive and supportive team with opportunities for advancement
• A demonstrated commitment to helping all staff develop and grow
• A competitive salary, including bonus
• A robust health benefits plan (exact details will vary by country)
• Flexible paid time off
• Allowances for desk set-up and learning and development

We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates who have personal or professional experience in the low-income and/or historically marginalized communities that we serve

#LI-REMOTE